Universal lifting spreader



July 29, 1969 J NAGY ET'AL 3,458,229

UNIVERSAL LIFTING SPREADER File une 26, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 JULES G. NAGY GEORGE W. COOPER @AJMQM ATTORNEY July 29, 1969 J NAGY ET AL 3,458,229

UNIVERSAL LIFTING SPREADER Filed June 26, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JULES G. NAGY GEORGE W COOPER ATTORNEY July 29, 1969 J NAGY ETAL 3,458,229

UNIVERSAL LIFTING SPREADER Filed June 26, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS JULES G. NAGY BY GEORGE W. COOPER ATTORNEY J. G. NAGY ETAL UNIVERSAL LIFTING SPREADER July 29, 1969 5 sheets-sheet 4 Fil ed June 2 INVENTORS JULES G. NAGY BY GEORGE W. COOPER ATTORNEY Jai 29, 1969 NAGY ET AL UNIVERSAL LIFTING SPREADER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 26, 1967 R m E m w W V W 5 ER U JG ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,458,229 UNIVERSAL LIFTING SPREADER Jules G. Nagy, 3420 Jordan Road, Oakland, Calif. 94602, and George W. Cooper, 2030 Lougview Drive, San Leandro, Calif. 94577 Filed June 26, 1967, Ser. No. 648,796 Int. Cl. B66c 1/00 U.S. Cl. 294-81 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background of the invention The present invention relates to lifting spreaders as utilized in handling standardized cargo containers. More particularly, it relates to lifting spreaders as utlllzed by cranes and dockside cargo handling equipment for loading cargo container handling trucks, trains, and ships.

There are presently many different types of cargo containers being utilized for the shipping of materials. These are employed to effect easier handling and more efficient shipping. In general, the most common cargo contalners are eight feet square in cross section; however, they come in lengths of ten, twenty, twenty-four, thirty, and forty feet. In addition to their being provided in different sizes, some containers are handled by bottom lift grapples and others are handled by top lifting twist locks.

Prior to the present invention, the lifting spreaders used to handle cargo containers were made of a fixed size and type whereby they could not handle different length cargo containers or containers having different types of lifting engagement means. The lifting spreaders had either fixed position top lift twist lock connectors or fixed position bottom lift grapples. The grapple supplied spreaders could lift both the bottom lift and top lift containers, but prior to this invention the top lift spreaders could only lift containers having twist lock receptacles or other top lifting connectors at their upper corners.

In order to provide a truly universal lifting spreader for handling all sizes and all types of cargo containers, it is necessary to provide a lifting spreader which can engage any one of the five standard sizes of cargo containers by means of top lift twist locks or bottom lift grapples.

Summary of the invention In order to provide a solution to the problem of handling the different types and different sized cargo containers by means of one universal lifting spreader, the present invention incorporates the capabilities of several spreaders into one which comprises: a lifting spreader platform; at least two pairs of movable grapples depending from that platform; grapple moving means for moving the pairs of grapples along the platform; at least two pair of movable twist locks mounted on the platform; lock moving means for moving the pairs of twist locks along the platform; and actuation means for operating the grapples and twist locks. By this arrangement, the grapples and twist locks can be moved along the lifting spreader to the proper position for engaging a cargo container. The proper engagement means can then be utilized to pick up the container.

The present invention also contemplates a new and novel method of handling different sized and different 3,458,229. Patented July 29, 1969 type cargo containers. The steps of the method comprise: providing a lifting spreader having both movable grapples and movable twist locks for engaging cargo containers and moving means for moving the grapples and twist locks; moving the cargo container engagement means, suitable for lifting the cargo container to be lifted, to a position along the lifting spreader suitable for balanced engagement with the cargo container; and engaging the cargo container. The cargo container can then be handled as with any standard lifting spreader.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a new and novel universal lifting spreader for handling different lengths of cargo containers by one spreader.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and novel universal lifting spreader for handling different types of cargo containers by means of either bottom lift grapples or top lift twist locks.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and novel universal lifting spreader wherein movement of the top lift twist lock lifting apparatus along the spreader platform does not interfere with movement of the grapple lifting apparatus along the platform and vice versa.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a universal lifting spreader wherein the grapples and twist locks are integrated and the same means is utilized for moving both of them along the lifting spreader.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a new and novel lifting spreader which has two pair of combination bottom lifting grapples which can be rotated to a retracted position to permit a low clearance lift of the spreader over cargo containers when the spreader is used by limited lift container handling apparatus.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and novel universal lifting spreader embodiment employing combination grapple-twist lock engagement means whereby the twist locks can be presented for use by simply rotating the grapples.

And yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel method for handling different sized and different type cargo containers.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a first preferred embodiment of the universal lifting spreader of the present invention handling a forty foot cargo container by means of top lift twist locks;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention lifting a ten foot cargo container by means of top lift twist locks;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of first preferred embodiment of the present invention handling a medium sized cargo container by means of bottom lifts;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevation of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention lifting a cargo container by means of bottom lifts;

FIGURE 5 is a partial end elevation in section of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the arrangement of the parts when lifting a container by means of bottom lifts;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention lifting a cargo container by bottom lifts;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention lifting a cargo container by twist locks;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevation of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention lifting a cargo container by bottom lifts;

FIGURE 9 is a partial sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along lines 99 of FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE 10 is a side elevation of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along line 10-10 of FIGURE 8.

Description of the preferred embodiment Reference is made to FIGURES 1-5 of the drawings for a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. There shown is a lifting spreader platform 11 suspended by cables 13 from a crane or other cargo container handling equipment. The lifting spreader platform includesa pair of longitudinal I-beams 15 which are welded into the structure and which form side rails that depend from the longitudinal edges of the platform on the inverted T portion of the cross section.

Two pair of carriages 17 are suspended from the longitudinal beams by means of trolley wheels 19 which are disposed on each side of the vertical web 21 of the beams and which ride on the lateral flanges 23 of the inverted T portion. In some cases it may be desirable to use slides or some other arrangement instead of the wheels 19. The two pair of carriages are disposed with a carriage on each of the longitudinal beams and with the two pair of carriage disposed equidistant from, and on opposite sides of, the lift center of the lifting spreader platform 11.

The carriages provide a bearing support 25 for rotatable tubes 27 which are suspended below the carriages disposed crosswise to the lifting spreader platform. A drive motor 29 is mounted on one of each of the pair of carriages. The motors drive spur gears 31 which in turn mesh with spur gears 33 secured to the rotatable tubes.

A grapple 35 is secured to each of the outboard ends of each of the rotatable tubes. The grapple includes a bottom lift arm 37 which is pivoted in a plane which contains the axis of the rotatable tube. It is not necessary that the arms 37 be pivoted in this particular plane as they could be offset from the center line of the rotatable tubes. The pivoting arrangement permits the lower ends 39 of the bottom lift arms to spread or close as shown by the dotted lines in FIGURE 4 for clamping onto or for releasing a cargo container 41.

An actuation cylinder 43 is provided for each of the bottom lift arms to effect pivoting thereof. The actuation cylinders in the prefer-red embodimentu are hydraulically operated; however, since the lift arms need assume only two positions, opened or closed, it would seem that the actuation cylinders could be operated by compressed air or comprise electric solenoids or some other equivalent means. The actuation cylinders engage the tops of the arms 37 above their pivot points 45 so that they do not interfere with the engagement of a cargo container. If the pivot point is sufficiently high above the top of the container, the actuation cylinders could be arranged to engage the bottom lift arms below the pivot points.

A twist lock 47 is mounted on each fore and aft side of each of the grapple housings 49 and is disposed at right angles thereto. As the grapples are rotated clockwise or counterclockwise to a horizontal position, one of the twist locks is placed in a downward projecting position where it can engage a cargo container.

Actuating means 51 are provided for operating the twist locks. In order that they do not interfere with the rotating of the grapples, they have been extended through the rotatable tubes 27 and are internally contained. The actuating means includes a hydraulic cylinder 53, in the preferred embodiment, which could also be compressed air operated, a solenoid, or other equivalent means. The actuating means engages a push rod 55 which interconnects between the twist lock operating levers 57 disposed at the oppoosite ends of the rotating tube in the grapple housings. As the push rods are translated, the male twist lock engagement means on the grapples rotate 90 to lock or unlock.

A carriage screw 59 is supported by each of the platform beams 15 longitudinally thereof. Each of the screws has a right hand threaded portion engaging the carriages at one end of the spreader and a left hand threaded portion, engaging the carriages at the other end of the spreader.

A drive means 61 is provided for synchronously rotating the carriage screws clockwise or counterclockwise. In the present invention, a hydraulic drive is used to prevent the possibility of the two carriage screws slipping out of phase.

The preferred embodiment of the invention operates in the following manner. The two pair of carriages are initially disposed equidistant on opposite sides of the lift center of the lifting spreader and engage with the carriage screws. The carriage screws are rotated to move the pairs of carriages synchronously along the lifting spreader side beams whereby they are always equidistant from the lift center of the spreader.

The carriages are moved by the carriage screws to the proper engagement position for picking up a cargo container. If the grapples are to be used to bottom lift the container, the grapples are kept spread while the carriages move into position. Once in position, with the spreader centered on the container, the actuation cylinder is operated to close the arms and clamp them onto the cargo container,

If the lifting spreader is to be utilized for picking up a cargo container provided with twist lock receptacles in its upper corners, the bottom lift arms of the grapples are rotated to a horizontal position. If the cargo container is one of the longer sizes, the lift arms are rotated inward (FIGURE 1) along the lifting beam whereby they do not extend beyond the ends of the beam to interfere with any surrounding structure or with the movement of the cargo containers. If the cargo containers are of a relatively short length, the bottom lift arms are rotated outward (FIGURE 2) so that they do not interfere with each other. Due to the length of the lifting spreader, the lift arms can always be rotated to a position where they do not interfere and they do not extend beyond the ends of the lifting spreader. After the lifting spreader has been seated onto the cargo container, the twist lock actuation means are operated to engage the twist locks with the twist lock receptacles.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention is quite simple, the disclosure of the basic idea suggests a variation of structures to achieve the same results without necessarily utilizing the structure disclosed herein. It is quite possible that two pair of grapples and two pair of twist locks could be independently mounted on the platform and independent means could be provided for moving each of the pairs of twist locks and each of the pairs of grapples.

However, in order to avoid the necessity of always having to adjust both sets of grapples and twist locks when changing between the different types of operation, it would seem desirable for the movement of the twist locks along the spreader platform not to interfere with the movement of the grapples and vice versa. This could be done by providing separate track ways or by interconnecting the grapples and the twist locks in a non-interferring fashion. Another alternative would be to mount the twist locks and the twist lock operating drive separately from the grapple and grapple drive, but on the same traversing member or carriage 17.

In the present invention, the grapples and the twist locks can be moved synchronously to keep the corresponding pairs of grapples and the corresponding pairs of twist locks continuously spaced equidistant from the lift center of the platform. The synchronous operation is effected in the preferred embodiment by the carriage screws. However, there are some conditions under which off-center lifts must be performed. These usually occur when a cargo container is secured to a highway trailer and both the container and the trailer are lifted as a unit, e.g., when a trailer and container are lifted onto a railroad flatcar for piggy-back shipment. Individual drives for each of the carriage screws 59, instead of a single drive at 61, permit independent as well as synchronous operation of the carriage screws. Even though separate motors are provided, the carriage screws can still be operated in a manner to move the carriages synchronously by aligning the carriages equidistant from the lift center of the spreader and then switching the motors from individual control switches to a master control.

It is also contemplated that a single twist lock can be monted at the upper end of each of the grapples and the grapples made swingable about their upper ends whereby a single twist lock would be adequate for engaging the cargo containers. However, in the described preferred embodiment of the present invention, in order to prevent the necessity of providing clearance for the bottom lift arms of the grapples around the spreader, and to keep them from interfering with each other, a pair of twist locks is mounted on each of the grapples whereby simply rotating the grapples to a horizontal position in either direction presents one of the two twist locks for engagement with the cargo containers.

Although twist locks are commonly used as the means for top lifting containers, some other male-female or equivalent engagement means could be utilized in place of twist locks or the grapples. Therefore, as the term is used herein, it is meant to include any equipment structure for effecting top lifting of the containers.

It is believed that in addition to the idea of the lifting spreader being new and novel, the individual grapples and twist lock combinations are in themselves novel. They comprise the idea of a swingable grapple having a twist lock mounted at the upper end thereof. The grapple can be swung to a position whereby the twist lock can engage a cargo container having a twist lock receptacle. A further improvement of course is the addition of a twist lock on each fore and aft side of the grapple disposed at right angles thereto whereby the grapples need only b rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise to a horizontal position.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 6 through 11 for a description of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. There shown is the same basic arrangement as utilized in the first preferred embodiment, however, in this embodiment the twist lock engagement means are not mounted on the swingable grapples but are independently mounted on the carriages in fixed position below the connection of the grapples with the carriages. The carriage moving means of the second preferred embodiment includes at least one gear track disposed along the spreader platform, and each carriage is provided with a motor means driving at least one gear meshing with the track.

The second preferred embodiment utilizes the same type of lifting spreader platform 101 as is used by the first preferred embodiment. A pair of longitudinal beams 103, which have inverted T cross sections at their lower edges 105, suspend two pair of movable carriages 107. The sus pension of the carriages is virtually the same as in the first preferred embodiment with trolley wheels 109 disposed on the lateral flanges 111 of each beam on opposite sides of the vertical flange 113.

Rotatable beams 115, which correspond to the rotatable tubes 27 of the first preferred embodiment, are suspended from each pair of the carriages disposed crosswise to the beams 103. A tube rotating means 117 is also supported by each pair of carriages. In this second preferred embodiment, an alternative means of rotating the tube is shown from that of the first embodiment. This means comprises a hydraulic or compressed air cylinder 119 which is secured to the framework of the carriage and engages a flat gear rack 121 which is mounted in guides 123 within the framework of the carriages. The fiat gear rack meshes with either both or one of a pair of pinions gears 125 which in turn engage a larger spur gear 127 which is secured to the rotatable beam 115. As the cylinder is operated, the beam is rotated.

Double pinion gears are provided to keep the cylinder mounted as low as possible on the carriages. However, direct engagement of the flat gear rack 121 with the spur gear 127 can be utilized in those arrangements where no mechanical advantage is necessary.

Similar to the first preferred embodiment, a grapple 129 is secured to each of the outboard ends of the rotatable beams 115. The grapples include bottom lift arms 131 which are pivoted at their upper ends on the rotatable beams for closing or spreading the lower ends of the arms for clamping under or disengaging from a cargo container. The grapple arms are pivoted by means of a pin 133 which extends through the rotatable beams and through the side flanges 135 of the grapple arms.

Grapple actuation cylinders 137 are provided for spreading and closing the lower ends of the arms. In the present embodiment, the cylinders are positioned above the pivot connection of the grapples with the rotatable beams; however, they could be positioned below the rotatable beams space permitting.

A fixed tube 139 is secured to each pair of carriages below the rotatable beams. Twist locks 141 are mounted at each end of the fixed tubes and actuating mechanism 143 for operating the twist locks is disposed within the fixed tubes. The mechanism comprises a cylinder 145 which engages a bell crank lever 147 which in turn operates the shift rods 149 connected to the twist locks.

A shield 151 is secured to each of the grapple arms and projects inward under the depending or downwardly projecting twist locks. These shields prevent inadvertent puncture or damage to the cargo container when the lifting spreader is set on top of a cargo container for engagement therewith by the grapple arms. When the grapple arms are rotated, the twist locks are exposed for engagement with a receptacle.

A gear track 153 is disposed along each of the platform beams. This can comprise a flat gear rack or a sprocket chain secured to the lower surface of the beams. A hydraulic or electric drive motor 155 is secured to each of the pair of carriages and drives a pair of pinion gears 157 through a cross shaft 159 which is driven by the motor through a gear reduction box 161. This motor can be independently or synchronously controlled to drive the carriages along the spreader platform.

The similarities between the two preferred embodiments of the present invention can be readily seen and it will be recognized that they are simply different species of the same invention.

In view of the possible different arrangements which could be utilized to effect the present invention without possibly infringing the structural claims, it is also believed that the method of handling the cargo containers by the present invention is also new and novel. The steps of the method comprises: providing a lifting spreader having both movable grapples and movable twist locks for engaging the cargo containers and means for moving the grapples and twist locks; moving the cargo container engaging means, either the grapples or the twist locks, which are suitable for lifting the cargo container to be lifted, to a position along the lifting spreader for effecting balanced engagement with the cargo container; and then engaging the cargo container.

This method provides means for lifting cargo containers which can be lifted either by top lift twist locks or bottom lift grapples. It must be realized that by interconnecting the grapples and twist locks the independent moving means can be combined into a single unit. Further, even though the twist locks are available for use, in many instances the bottom lifts can be more easily utilized for lifting cargo containers which are provided with twist locks. Therefore, it is within the operators discretion as to which of the lifting means he chooses to employ.

In a preferred improvement upon the broad method, the steps comprise: providing a lifting spreader having two pair of interconnected and movable swingable grapple-twist lock combinations with the twist locks mounted proximate the upper ends of the grapples, and with means for swinging the grapples around their upper ends; and the engaging of the cargo container comprises clamping onto the container by means of the grapples, if the container is notprovided with twist lock receptacles, and if it is not preferential to use twist lock engagement, or swinging the grapples to position to permit the twist locks to engage the container and engaging the container by means of the twist locks. An improvement on that method includes rotating the grapples clockwise or counterclockwise to a non-interfering position alongside and within the length of the spreader when the twist locks are employed to engage the cargo container.

The new and improved universal lifting spreader of the present invention and the new and novel method for handling cargo containers of different size and different types effect a solution to the different problems which have existed heretofore in the prior art of cargo container'handling. It will be apparent from the foregoing description of the invention, in its preferred form, that it will fulfill all of the objects attributable thereto.

We claim:

1. A universal lifting spreader comprising a lifting spreader platform,

two pair of grapples suspended from and movable along said platform, each of said pairs of grapples swingable around their upper ends,

opening and closing means for spreadnig and clamping the lower ends of said grapples,

a pair of rotatable beams disposed crosswise to said platform, each of said beams interconnecting the grapples of one of said pair of grapples,

rotating means for turning said beams clockwise or counterclockwise,

a pair of twist locks disposed below the connection of said grapples with said rotatable beams and interconnected to each of said rotatable beams in fixed relation with respect thereto,

actuating means for operating said twist locks,

a gear track disposed along said platform, and

motor means secured to the interconnecting structure of each of said grapple and twist lock pairs and driving at least one gear meshing with said track.

2. The universal lifting spreader of claim 1 wherein said rotatable beams are rotatably supported by carriages, the upper ends of said grapples are carried by said rotatable beams, and said twist locks are secured to fixed tubes which are disposed below saidrotatable beams and supported by said carriages.

3. The universal lifting spreader of claim 2 wherein the actuation means for said twist locks extends through said fixed tubes disposed below said rotatable beams.

4. The universal lifting spreader of claim 3 wherein the actuation means includes a shifting rod mechanism extending through the fixed tubes engaging the twist locks at the opposite ends of the tubes and an actuation cylinder in each of said tubes for moving said shifting rod mechanism.

5. A universal lifting spreader comprising a lifting spreader platform having a pair of longitudinal beams,

two pair of carriages movable along said beams and disposed on opposite sides of the lift center of said lifting spreader, said carriages each having at least a trolley wheel engaging each of said beams,

a rotatable beam supported by each of said pair of carriages crosswise to said beams,

rotatable beam rotating means supported by each pair of carriages,

a grapple secured to each of the outboard ends of each of said beams, said grapples including bottom lift arms pivoted at their upper ends, said arms pivotable for closing or spreading the lower ends of said arms for clamping under or disengaging from a cargo container,

grapple actuation cylinders for spreading and closing the lower ends of said arms,

a fixed tube secured to each pair of carriages below said rotatable beam,

a twist lock mounted at each end of said fixed tubes,

actuating means extending through said fixed tubes for operating said twist locks,

a gear track disposed along each of said platform beams, and

motor means secured to each of said pair of carriages and driving pinion gears meshing with said gear tracks for moving said carriages along said spreader platform.

6. A universal lifting spreader comprising a lifting spreader platform,

a pair of carriages mounted on and movable along said platform,

moving means for moving said carriages independently or synchronously along said platform,

a pair of grapples mounted on each of said carriages and swingable around their upper ends, said carriages having said grapples mounted on opposite sides of said platform,

rotating means for swinging grapples around their upper ends,

at least one twist lock disposed proximate the upper end of each of said grapples independently mounted on said carriages below the connection of said grapples with said carriages, and

actuation means on said carriages for acutating said grapples and said twist locks.

7; The universal lifting spreader of claim 6 wherein a rotatable tube or beam interconnects the grapples of each of said pairs of grapples and tube rotating means are provided for rotating said tubes clockwise or counterclockwise.-

8. The universal lifting spreader of claim 6 or 7 wherein said moving means includes at least one gear track disposed along said platform and motor means on each of said carriages driving at least one gear meshing with said track.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,772,794 12/1956 Cramer et al. 29467 X 3,015,407 1/1962 Fesmire et a1 294--81 X 3,241,686 3/1966 Hurst 294-81 X 3,243,224 3/1966 Gutridge 29481 X 3,251,496 5/1966 Lamer et al 29481 X ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Primary Examiner 

